SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Oral Roberts’s Luis Marcos Bonifasi, Omaha’s Bryan Kuntz and Pavan Uppu along with North Dakota’s Ethel Li and Jule Schulte put together impressive performances during the opening weekend of the spring tennis season to collect the first Kwik Star Summit League Men’s and Women’s Tennis Peak Performer of the Week honors, League officials released Tuesday.
 
Bonifasi opened the spring season with a 3-1 singles record, playing from the No. 3 spot in the lineup during all four matches for ORU to secure his first career peak performer of the week honor. He started the opening weekend with a 7-6 (11), 1-6, 7-6 (4) win against Saint Joseph to clinch the match for the Golden Eagles.

The Barcelona native then carried the momentum into his match against Florida Gulf Coast, coming out on top with a straight-set victory (6-2, 6-3). After suffering his lone defeat against Arkansas, he closed the weekend securing a point in ORU’s matchup with Saint Louis.
 
The Mavericks’ duo of Kuntz and Uppu earned a win from the No. 1 spot over Nebraska's Colsen Wells and Matt Shearer (6-4) to earn the men’s doubles peak team of the week for the second time in their respective careers.
 
On the women’s side, Li went 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles to help North Dakota earn a split, picking up a win over Marquette (5-2) before falling to Montana State (4-3). She earned her second individual peak accolade.
 
Playing from the No. 1 position for all her matches, Li opened the weekend with a victory over Marquette’s top player (6-3, 6-3). She then went on to defeat Montana State’s top player (6-4, 6-4).
 
At the No. 1 court in doubles, Li partnered with Schulte, grabbing a pair of wins against both the Golden Eagles (6-4) and Bobcats (7-6) to go perfect in doubles play and help that duo earn the doubles peak team of the week award. For Li, it’s her first weekly doubles honor, while Schulte grabbed her third.
 
MEN’S TENNIS SINGLE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Luis Marcos Bonifasi, Oral Roberts (Jr)

• Garnered his first career peak performer award
• Went 3-1 from the No. 3 spot in singles as ORU went 2-2, picking up wins against St Joseph’s (W, 4-3) and Saint Louis (W, 4-0)
• Secured the match-clinching point against St. Joseph’s with a 7-6 (11), 1-6, 7-6 (4) victory
• Rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 win against Florida Gulf Coast, marking the only Golden Eagle win of the match

Also nominated: Leo Galliano (North Dakota)
 
MEN’S TENNIS DOUBLES PEAK TEAM OF THE WEEK
Bryan Kuntz (Gr) & Pavan Uppu (R-So), Omaha

• Kuntz earned the second peak performer award of his career
• Uppu garnered his second career peak performer honor
• Earned a win at No. 1 doubles over Nebraska's Colsen Wells and Matt Shearer (6-4).

 Also nominated: Leo Galliano & Kotaro Matsumura (North Dakota)
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS SINGLES PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Ethel Li, North Dakota (Sr)

• Received the second individual peak performer accolade of her career
• Took both sets at 6-3 from Marquette’s No. 1 player, leading UND to a 5-2 team win
• Defeated Montana State’s No. 1 player 6-4, 6-4
• Moved to 2-0 during the spring dual season

Also nominated: Louise Wikander (Denver), Khayli Buckels (Omaha), Ava Goodell (Oral Roberts)
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS DOUBLES PEAK TEAM OF THE WEEK
Ethel Li (Sr) & Jule Schulte (Sr), North Dakota

• Li captured her first peak doubles team award of her career
• Schulte collected her fifth (three doubles; two singles) career weekly honor
• Duo secured a 6-4 victory over Marquette’s No. 1 doubles team
• Followed up with a 7-6 (8-6) win over Montana State’s No. 1 doubles team

Also nominated: N/A

2026 Peak Performers of the Week
January 20
MS: Luis Marcos Bonifasi, Oral Roberts
MD: Bryan Kuntz & Pavan Uppu, Omaha
WS: Ethel Li, North Dakota
WD: Ethel Li & Jule Schulte, North Dakota
 
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